My Old Mate

Dedicated to our horses.


 

I sit and watch the sun rise, gently spreading it’s fingers across the land

My timber chair creaks as I sit, as do my weary bones

Steaming black tea in a chipped mug warms my weathered hands

I look out for my old mate as I hear the birds sing their morning tones

 

I see him slowly wander up through the dewy morning grass

Cobwebs shimmer & water droplets glisten in the suns early light

As I watch him my mind starts to ride down tracks of the past

I smile wistfully as visions of times long gone blur my sight

 

The wind is whipping at his mane

I can hear the lowing of cattle and the night watchmans steady song

We are galloping free across the golden planes

Hunched in the saddle, bitter cold turning his breathe to mist those nights were long

 

I recall the dust lifting from the steady walk of fat bullocks hooves

Days of driving rain hunkered down under a canvas tarp

Rolling a smoke on the tail as the herd was steadily on the move

Drinking a pannikin of tea to warm our bellies and playing cards to keep us sharp

 

Never a foot did he put wrong, he’d always affectionately nuzzle my hand

Often times could get lonely but he was always my faithful friend

Together we have covered so many miles of this wide land

There was barely an animal that he couldn’t bend

 

 I find myself returned to my verandah view

I find my vision still blurry as time hasn’t been kind

I raise myself up steady and walk to greet him, with a gentle whinny he reaches to knock my hat askew

I lay my head upon his neck and wonder if he can read my mind

 

I rest upon his smooth coat my hands like old leather

A tear slips down my cheek as I breathe in my old mate

We spent our best years together

Theres so much I wish I could say to him as it’s time to shut the gate

 

I hope he’s running free again, tail streaming in the wind across the planes so golden

Chasing cattle and camping under shady gums

There was never a mount so kind, to him I’ll always be beholden

I’ll see you soon old boy I mutter through a breaking voice, I hope your there to meet me when my time comes

 

Epilogue:

And later that night as he laid down to sleep

His body let go to join his horse back in those dusty days

His mind never came back from those memories he felt so deep

Theres no bond quite like a man and his horse, or so that’s what they say.


Grace Perry